Rohan on stand-by for recall to Swans

COBDEN export Gary Rohan says an AFL recall is within his reach after finding fitness with Sydney’s reserves team.

Cobden export Gary Rohan was back on his home turf at the weekend for a flying visit, but is desperate to return to the Sydney Swans side.

Rohan, 22, played the first four rounds of the season but battled soreness in his right leg — the one he broke in a sickening clash with North Melbourne’s Lindsay Thomas in 2012 — and was dropped to the North East Australian Football League to build confidence.

Speaking to The Standard on a visit home to Cobden yesterday, the creative speedster said he was desperate to return to the star-studded Sydney line-up.

The Swans have the bye this weekend and play Geelong at the SCG on May 29.

“My leg, I had some trouble with it early and could only get to half-time of a game and not run it out, so they put me back to reserves to get some game time into my legs and get going,” Rohan said.

“The last four weeks I’ve been playing reserves and have been playing well.

“I was close last week against Essendon, against Zachy (Zach Merrett).

“It would have been good to play against them (the Merrett brothers) but I am getting closer, so hopefully next week against Geelong.”

Rohan, who has kicked 25 goals in his 31 career games, said it was important he could play a variety of roles for the team upon his return.

“In the reserves I have been playing on half-back, so a new role,” he said.

“Horse (coach John Longmire) said I’d be a utility so I will just go forward or back or wherever the team needs me to go.” The former number six draft pick said Sydney had learnt from its slow start, which included a shock round one loss to new rival Greater Western Sydney.

Rohan said Sydney — on a five-game winning streak — was content to be 6-3 at the break.

“It was a bit shattering early on but the boys have gelled well together,” he said.

“We have the big forwards up forward with Tippo (Kurt Tippett) and Buddy (Franklin) working well together.

“The midfield have kicked into gear.

“It’s been a slow start but it’s really good now.” Rohan always tries to visit Cobden as often as possible.

He returned to the south-west on Saturday night and caught the final quarter of Cobden’s loss to Terang Mortlake.

“It was a good crowd against Terang (Mortlake),” he said.

“I got here in the last quarter and Cobden were down five goals and I thought ‘oh a blowout’ but in the last quarter they kicked the first five so they were straight back in there, so it was good.